Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1195959
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DECEMBER 25-31, 2019 UCW 23 Cumberland County residents who need help with heating costs may apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) through the Department of Social Services. e program helps qualified families with their heating costs. During December, qualified elderly and disabled residents have priority. All households may apply beginning Jan. 2. LIEAP is available only to qualified households on a first-come, first serve-basis. LIEAP Blitz on Jan. 11 Social Services will hold a "LIEAP Blitz" sign-up event Saturday, Jan. 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. e DSS building is located at 1225 Ramsey St., Fayetteville. Applications are also accepted from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 910-677-2821 for information. Households with Native Americans age 18 or older must apply through the Lumbee Tribe at www. lumbeetribe.com. LIEAP is a federally-funded program that provides a one-time vendor payment directly to the utility company to help eligible households pay their heating bills during cold-weather months. Household income must not exceed 130% of the poverty level. All households must apply for LIEAP; there are no automatic approvals. In order to determine eligibility, the following verifications must be provided: • Identification of head of household • Social Security number for all household members • Copy of heating bill • Gross income received in prior month • Childcare expenses and legal support obligations paid in the prior month DSS caseworker Londrea Galbreath helps a client sign up for LIEAP at DSS on Dec. 7. Help With Heating Costs Cumberland County officially accepted a $2,251,387 grant from the North Carolina 911 Board to the County's new 911 Call Center to be located in the future Emergency Services Building at 500 Executive Place. e money will help fund renovation, hardware, equipment and associated technology costs for the call center. Telecommunications Manager Adam Johnson signed the grant paperwork Dec. 6 in a brief ceremony at the N.C. 911 Board meeting held at the Leon Levine Hall Medical Science Building at Campbell University's School of Osteopathic Medicine. Emergency Services applied for the grant earlier this year. Johnson and Emergency Services Director Gene Booth appeared before the 911 Board Grant Committee in July to present the grant application. Cumberland County's grant application cited the need for more space and reduced risk from vulnerabilities such as flooding and hazardous materials traveling along nearby railroad tracks. e current 911 Call Center has been housed in the Law Enforcement Center on Dick Street, next to the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse, since 1974 when the LEC was built. Since that time, Cumberland County's population has grown by approximately 95,000 people and the volume of emergency calls has increased. e current call center is 858 square feet and the new center will have 2,171 square feet. In addition to the 911 Call Center, the building will also house the County's Emergency Services Department, Fire Marshal's office, Emergency Management and the Emergency Operations Center. e county purchased the Executive Place building in November 2018. Built in 1993, the 17,000 square foot building sits on 2.72 acres at the intersection of Ravenhill Drive and Executive Place. Originally an insurance service center for State Farm, the building was renovated by the Department of Defense in 2009 into a secure office and data center and includes a black K4 rated security fence around the perimeter. e County has contracted with an architect for design and engineering services and a construction manager for the project and will be going out to bid for the actual renovations to the building. e move to the new 911 Center is expected sometime in the spring of 2021. Above, right, Telecommunications Manager Adam Johnson, left, and North Carolina Department of Information Technology Secretary and Chief Information Officer Eric Boyette sign the $2.25 million grant from the North Carolina 911 Board. Also pictured are Assistant County Manager Tracy Jackson, left, and Emergency Services Director Gene Booth. County Signs $2.25 Million Grant for 911 Call Center News for Cumberland County Residents co.cumberland.nc.us Cumberland Matters Christian music station local your